Lin Wins ESPY Award for "Best Breakthrough Athlete"

Jul 11, 2012

Jeremy Lin was on the cover of Sports Illustrated Feb. 20 and 27 (George Kalinsky/MSG Photos).

LOS ANGELES -- Current New York Knicks guard and former Harvard standout Jeremy Lin '10 was presented with the "Best Breakthrough Athlete" Award at the ESPYs, which was held in Los Angeles, Calif. Wednesday evening.

Lin, who became an international sensation as a member of the New York Knicks last season, won the award against fellow nominees Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots) and Alex Morgan (U.S. Soccer).

The native of Palo Alto, Calif., averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game in 35 contests with New York before suffering a season-ending injury. Lin, who scored a career-high 38 points in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers Feb. 10, helped the Knicks to a six-game win streak prior to the All-Star break, helping him earn a spot in the NBA's Rising Stars Game.

Lin scored 136 points in his first five starts, the most by an NBA player since the merger with the ABA in 1976-77.

In addition to his success on the court, Lin earned the honor of being the first person with Ivy League ties to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated in consecutive weeks (Feb. 20 and 27).